Practice makes perfect, right? Well, when it comes to learning Mandarin, you’re never going to be perfect… and that’s okay! In many ways learning Mandarin is like paddling a boat upstream: it is a journey that requires hard work, determination, and patience. However, there is a review method I learned in high school that has become a vital addition to my Mandarin studies: keeping a Chinese diary. Keeping a simple diary in Mandarin makes learning fun and also establishes a consistent routine.

So what do you need to make a Chinese diary? Well, obviously a notebook, a pen, and ChinesePod definitely helps. What I like to do is fire up a ChinesePod lesson, and then use my diary to reinforce the lesson as I go along with the podcast. Read more for four ways to get started on your very own Chinese diary!

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Language learning is a dynamic process: it isn’t all about listening to a podcast or endlessly writing characters; it is also about finding the confidence to converse with native speakers.  Finding a native speaker to practice Mandarin with can be a struggle. This can be quite discouraging when all you want to do is practice the language that you are working so hard to learn! Never fear: thanks to modern technology, you now have HelloTalk to add to your language learning arsenal.

HelloTalk meets at the crossroads of a instant messaging mobile app and a passionate language learning community. It’s a free app, available on iOS and Android, that instantly connects you with like-minded people who want to learn another language. Read more for our in-depth review of the app, as well as a special download link! Read More

I started learning Mandarin when I was 14, and I’m about to turn 22 years old. Based on the sheer number of years I’ve been studying Mandarin, you’d think I’d be at an advanced skill level.

In reality, I’d place my Chinese literacy and fluency at a lower intermediate skill level. My main problem? Sporadic gaps that I have taken over the course of my Chinese education. I never really kept up with learning the language during summer breaks in high school, and in college I took a few semesters off from my Chinese courses.

These breaks proved to be very costly. When I’d finally gotten back into the groove of taking classes again, I’d sometimes find myself drowning because my foundation with the basics is quite shaky.

This happens to all of us, though. We go through ups and downs, turbulent times versus peaceful times, and as a result, it can be easy to get derailed in learning a language. As someone who has faltered in the past, I wanted to share with you three tips I’ve learned for getting back into the swing of learning Chinese after you’ve taken a break.

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